Police: Freedom man took nude photos of personal-care residents

Friday

Jun 29, 2018 at 5:04 PMJun 30, 2018 at 4:41 PM

DAUGHERTY TWP. — A rape investigation led police to find that a Freedom man took inappropriate and nude photos of residents at a personal-care facility.

According to a police report, Zachary L. Dinell, 24, was charged June 4 with the sexual assault of an unconscious woman. Police said officers investigating the assault searched Dinell’s phone and found several saved photos that were “obscene and pornographic."

The pictures appeared to be taken at a personal-care facility and were of people who had physical and mental disabilities, police said.

According to the report, investigators learned Dinell was employed at a personal-care home in Daugherty Township, later identified as McGuire Memorial Home.

Police said another McGuire Memorial employee reported Dinell sent her three photos via the social media app SnapChat depicting a nude 19-year-old resident of the home. Investigators found at least 21 other photos on his phone of six residents between the ages of 14 and 62, all of which showed the residents either partially or fully nude or “indecent content.”

Dinell, of 629 Ninth St., was charged Friday by New Brighton Area police with 34 counts of invasion of privacy related to all six of the victims and seven counts of possession of pornography of a child, which reflect photos taken of the 14-year-old juvenile.

Sister Mary Thaddeus Markelewicz, president and CEO of McGuire Memorial Home, said Dinell was terminated from his position on June 19. Prior to that, he was suspended on June 5 after he was charged in the Freedom case.

“McGuire Memorial is fully cooperating with all government agencies and the New Brighton police,” Markelewicz said. “We strive to continue to provide a safe and private environment for the children and adults whom we serve. This is and has always been our number one priority.”

She said Dinell has not been on McGuire Memorial property since his June 5 suspension.

Dinell was charged June 4 by Freedom police with rape of an unconscious victim, rape of a substantially impaired person, sexual assault, unlawful dissemination of an intimate image and invasion of privacy.

Police said Dinell met a woman June 1 at the Stonewall Golf Course in North Sewickley Township. The two got into Dinell’s car, and he offered her a drink. The woman poured out the drink but went with Dinell to his home.

Police said Dinell again offered a drink to the woman and “repeatedly pushed the cup toward her mouth to force her to drink more.”

The woman told officers she lost consciousness sometime between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. and didn’t wake up until 5:30 a.m. June 2. According to the report, the woman woke up nude in Dinell’s bed lying next to him.

After the woman gathered her belongings and left, police reported, Dinell texted her and said they had intercourse.

According to the report, he also sent the woman a message that included intimate photos of her. Police said she later found out Dinell sent the photos to his ex-girlfriend.

The woman, who suffered some bruising on her arm, was treated at an area hospital and evaluated for sexual assault.

Dinell was interviewed by officers and admitted to assaulting the woman while she was passed out. He also admitted to disseminating the nude photos.

He is awaiting a preliminary hearing on both sets of charges, according to court records.

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